The Catu-Dvara Jataka: Greed, Karma, and Spiritual Downfall

In the Catu-Dvara Jataka, the Bodhisatta was born as Indra, the king of the gods. The story begins with a wealthy merchant whose mother, deeply concerned about her son’s soul, constantly urged him to live a virtuous life, offer alms, and observe the holy days. However, the merchant was only interested in wealth and rejected the path of righteousness.

On one full-moon holy day, the mother offered him one thousand coins if he would keep the vows and attend an overnight sermon. Motivated by greed, the merchant agreed, but instead of attending the sermon, he spent the night sleeping. The next morning, he returned home and rudely demanded the money from his mother, refusing to eat until she gave it to him.

Later, the merchant decided to embark on a trading voyage to distant lands. His mother pleaded with him not to go, warning him of the dangers at sea and reminding him that they already had enough wealth. But the merchant, driven by greed, ignored her advice. When she tried to stop him by holding his hand, he struck her and left without remorse.

On the seventh day of his voyage, the merchant’s ship became stuck as the winds died down. The crew cast lots to determine who had caused the curse, and when the merchant drew the lot three times, he was cast out on a raft, left to drift at sea. The moment he was jettisoned, the ship began to move again.

The merchant’s raft eventually drifted to an island where he encountered four female spirits who lived in a crystal palace. These spirits were vimana petas—ghosts who enjoyed intermittent bliss but were regularly subjected to torment. The merchant stayed with them until they departed for a week of penance. Over time, he encountered more spirits: eight in a silver palace, sixteen in a jewel palace, and finally thirty-two in a golden palace. Each time, the spirits would leave for their penance, and the merchant would follow.

Eventually, the merchant arrived in a city with massive walls and four gates. He was told that this city was one of the lesser hells, but the merchant, blinded by arrogance and greed, thought it to be a beautiful place and believed he could become its ruler.

Upon entering, he encountered a man carrying a razor-sharp wheel on his head, which the merchant foolishly mistook for a lotus flower. The chains around the man’s body appeared to him as a beautiful robe, the blood dripping from his head seemed to be perfume, and the man’s groaning was like a sweet song. The merchant, driven by his greed, demanded that the man give him the “lotus.” When told the truth about the wheel and its significance, the merchant dismissed it, thinking the man was lying to keep it for himself.

The man, desperate to end his suffering, reluctantly handed over the wheel. As soon as the razor-sharp wheel touched the merchant’s head, he felt an excruciating pain, like a pestle crushing mustard seeds. The merchant screamed out in agony, asking what he had done to deserve such punishment.

At that moment, the Bodhisatta, in the form of Indra, passed by. The merchant cried out, asking him to explain why he was suffering so. The Bodhisatta revealed that the merchant’s greed, particularly his mistreatment of his mother and his rejection of righteousness, had led to this great suffering. He explained that the merchant would have to endure centuries of pain and suffering, carrying the razor wheel on his head as the karmic result of his greed and defiance.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha: The Greedy Merchant as a Disobedient Disciple

In the Buddha’s time, one of the Buddha’s disciples, who had been disobedient and failed to follow the Buddhist teachings properly, was reprimanded by the Buddha for his greed and disregard for the path of righteousness. To teach him a lesson, the Buddha shared this story of the greedy merchant from a past life, showing the disciple that his defiance of spiritual practice and his selfish actions would lead to great suffering, just as the merchant had suffered in the Jataka tale.

Through this story, the Buddha reminded his disciple that greed, disrespect for elders, and defiance of spiritual teachings would inevitably result in pain and suffering, while following the path of virtue would lead to liberation and happiness.

Moral of the Story:

The Catu-Dvara Jataka highlights the dangers of greed and selfishness, and the importance of virtue and righteousness. The merchant’s greed and mistreatment of his mother led to his downfall, symbolizing how material desires and neglecting spiritual wisdom can result in profound suffering. By contrast, the Bodhisatta, as Indra, represents the path of wisdom and compassion, demonstrating how virtuous actions lead to spiritual success.

This Jataka serves as a warning against greed and disrespect toward one’s elders or spiritual guidance, urging individuals to live lives of righteousness and compassion, avoiding actions that will lead to negative karmic consequences. The story also underscores the idea that suffering, whether in this life or in future lives, is often the result of one’s actions and choices.